10 Reasons The Flash Failed
6. James Gunn Turned The DCEU Into A Lameduck
Fans celebrated when David Zaslav picked James Gunn to replace Walter Hamada as DC studios new chief. Once he secured his position, Gunn took to social media, answering fan questions and teasing what the future might hold.
Unfortunately for DCEU films that had yet to be released, Gunn made it clear that the upcoming roster of DC films would not have a significant impact on the Gunnverse. While this gambit might have benefited Gunn's impending slate, it rendered the remaining DCEU movies lame ducks. Any future crossovers, plot points or characters teased in DCEU films would be meaningless after DC's change of guard.
This lack of connection to a larger storyline undoubtedly hurt the DCEU's box office tallies. This was no more apparent than in 2021, when Black Adam ended with a much-hyped cameo featuring the return of Henry Cavill's Superman, only to have Gunn announce Cavill's departure from the franchise before Black Adam left theatres.
Gunn's antics let fans know that The Flash's story would not impact the larger DC narrative, making the film a footnote from DC's past before it was even released.